Voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement



3 Sheets-Sheet l H. B. SHAPIRO Filed June 3,

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NVENTOR ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1943.

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMING AND RECTIF'YING VIBRATORY CONTACTOR ARRANGEMENT Jan. 19, 1943. H. B. SHAPIRO VOLTAGE TRANSFORMING AND RECTIFYING VIBRATORY CONTACTOR ARRANGEMENT Fild June 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J lllll ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1943. H. B. sHAPlRO 2,308,549

VOLTAGE TRANSFORMING AND RECTIFYING VIBRATORY CONTACTOR ARRANGEMENT Filed June 5, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 12 f 94 5 911 92 54912 O 1! Q L E """""':1;:""'

. 97 E i 9 I 96 4 i I i 1 INVENTOR BY 3W 3. MMQQM ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1943 VOLTAGE TRANSFORMING AND RECTIFY- ING VIBRATORY CONTACTOR ARRANGE- MENT Harry B. Shapiro, Astoria, Long Island, N. Y., as-

signor to Sonotone Corporation, Elmsford, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1940, Serial No. 338,586

6 Claims.

This invention relates to voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangements of the type used for transforming' low direct; current voltage into a high direct current voltage.

Among the objects of the invention is an improved voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement having its elements so designed, arranged and correlated that they may be compressed into an extremely small structure operating with a sufficiently high efilciency so that it may be used in lieu of dry cell batteries for energizing the anode circuits of electron tube amplifiers, such as used in hearing aids, which must be kept small enough to be suitable for inconspicuous wear on the body of the user.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of exemplifications thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a perspective view illustrating the elements of a wearable electron tube hearing aid using a voltage transforming arrangement of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating the cooperative relationship of the elements of the hearing aid of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through a power supply unit, such as shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed view along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view through a voltage transforming arrangement of the.in vention;

Fig. '7 is a cross-sectional view along line I-l of Fig. 6;

8 is an exploded view of the vibratory contactor mechanism of Figs. 6 and '1;

'of the rectifying action; and

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are views similar to Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrating a modified form of such vi-.

brato'ry contactor mechanism.

In my copending application Serial No. 294,649,

. filed September 13, 1939, are described electron tube amplifiers designed for use as a part of a wearable hearing aid, all the elements of which must be small enough so that they may be worn hidden in operative condition on the body of the user. The general arrangement of one such electron tube amplifier is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In a compact flat casing small enough for inconspicuous wear, for instance, in the vest pocket of the user, is mounted a diaphragmdriven Rochelle salt crystal microphone 2| which drives a voltage-amplifier electron tube 22, the output of which is amplified by a power amplifier tube 23 that supplies its output to a hearing aid receiver 24 which is small enough for inconspicuous wear on the head of the user.

In the form shown, the two amplifier tubes are of the pentode type and they have filamentary cathodes 25 which are energized in parallel through two leads 26, 21 extending from plug terminals 28 in the wall of the casing. The voltage amplifying stage is coupled to the power amplifier stage by a coupling inductance 3| and is arranged and designed in the way disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 294,649, filed September 13, 1939, so that the voltage amplifier stage shall operate with a gain of more than over the frequency range between 500 and 4000 cycles sufficient to produce only with one additional power amplifier stage a power output that is substantially fiat within plus and minus three decibels over the principal speech frequency range, and is sumcient to drive a standard bone conduction receiver.

If an electromagnetic receiver 24 having a high impedance winding is used, its winding is connected, in the way shown, directly in the output circuit of the power amplifier tube. A response control arrangement 29 may be combined with the other elements of the amplifier in the way described in my application Serial No.

294,649, so as to make possible selective control of the amplification in the different parts of the speech frequency range in accordance with the needs of the user.

The anode or plate circuits of the two tubes 22, 23 are supplied through an anode supply lead 30 connected to another terminal of the amplifier unit. The screen grids of the two tubes are suitably connected to the anode lead 30 so as to maintain them at their required operating potential. The cathode supply leads 26, 21 and the anode supply lead 30 are connected through leads of a. multi-conductor cord 33 and contacts of a switch 34 to an electric power supply unit, in the form of a fiat compact casing 35, which is small enough for hidden, inconspicuous wear on the body of the user, and houses a small dry cell battery 36 which supplies the cathode leads 25, 21 and a source of power which supplies direct current of proper voltage and polarity to the anode supply lead of the amplifier 20.

As disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 294,649, filed September 13, 1939, a hearing aid amplifier of the foregoing type will deliver the required output to a standard bone conduction receiver when operating with a very low anode voltage. Most of the commercially sold hearing aid amplifiers of the foregoing type operate with small compact dry cell B batteries supplying an anode voltage of only 24 volts and having a useful operating life of several hundred hours. In less severe cases of deafness, a B battery delivering a voltage of only 12 volts is sufficient.

Instead of employing a dry cell battery pack for supplying the anode circuits of the amplifier,

the hearing aid amplifier of Figs. 1 and 2 uses a voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement 35, small enough for housing in the flat compact casing of the power unit and operated by a small dry cell 39 for supplying direct-current voltage required for energizing the anode circuit of the amplifier.

As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, the voltage transforming and rectifying contactor arrangement 38 is similar in its general arrangement to those used in radios. It comprises a step-up transformer 4| having a center tapped primary transformer winding 42 and a center tapped secondary transformer winding 43 which is combined with a vibratory contactor mechanism 45 to periodically send, from the low voltage leads 46, 41 which are connected to the battery cell 39, oppositely directed current impulses through the two halves of the primary transformer winding 42 and to rectify the alternating voltage induced by the primary current impulses in the secondary transformer winding 43 and impress the rectified voltage on two high voltage leads 48, 49 to which the anode supply circuit of the amplifier 20 is connected.

The vibratory contactor mechanism 45 has a vibratory spring reed 5| carrying on two reed projections 52, 53 oppositely facing reed contacts 54, 55 cooperating with two sets of contacts 55,

51 and 5B, 59 which are connected to the ends of the primary transformer winding 42 and secondary transformer winding 43, respectively.

To the free end of the reed 5| is secured a magnetic armature 60 which is driven by an electromagnet 6| having an actuating winding 45 connected between the reed 5| and one of the ends of the primary transformer winding 42. so that when the circuit from its operating cell 55 is completed by the closure of switch 54, the magnet winding 62 is energized, operating the reed to flex and short circuit at its contacts 54, 55 the magnet winding 53, thereby releasing the reed to swing in opposite direction, whereupon the magnet 6| is again energized. This sequence of operations is continuously repeated, and the reed 5| is vibrated as long as the switch 34 completes the circuit from the battery cell 39.

The reed contact 54 forms in association with its contacts 56, 51 a set of primary impulse contacts which close and open periodically during each vibrating cycle of the reed, to send oppositely directed intermittent current pulses from cell 59 through the two halves of the primary transformer winding 42, so as to induce in the secondary transformer winding an alternating voltage. The reed contact 55 forms in association with its periodically closing and opening contacts 5 55 a set of secondary rectifying contacts which rectify the alternating voltage induced in the secondary transformer winding 43 and impress it in rectified form on the high voltage leads 48, 45 and therethrough on the anode circuits of the amplifier.

In order to suppress sparking when the vibratory reed contacts break currents in the associated circuits, each half of the secondary transformer winding 43 is bridged by a condenser 55 with or without a series resistance 55 designed to A filter formed of series connected iron-core inductances 51 and shunt condensers 68 is interposed in the high voltage output leads 41, 48 to smooth out the rectified current pulsations impressed on the high voltage leads 45, 49 and to deliver to amplifier terminals of the anode supply lead Ill and the cathode lead 25 a smooth direct-current voltage of the required polarity.

Vibratory contactor voltage transforming and rectifying contactor arrangements of the foregoing type have been used for many years in battery-operated radio sets. In accordance with the invention, the elements of such voltage transforming and rectifying contactor arrangements are designed and arranged to operate so that they may be compressed within an extremely small structure which is eiiicient in operation and is able to supply with a relatively small drain from a low voltage source, such as a single dry cell battery of 1.5 volts, a relatively high voltage direct current required for the anode circuits of wearable electron tube amplifiers. such as used in hearing aids.

One form of such transforming and rectifying contactor arrangement exemplifying the invention is shown in detail in Figs. 6 to 8. The electromagnet 5| is made in the form of an elongated core member secured, as by threading or riveting, to a mounting plate II of magnetic material on which the entire vibratory contactor mechanism is mounted, and having two pole'leg extensions 52 on the two sides of the core pole. The reed 5| is stamped from a. sheet of electrically conducting spring metal and has at its free end two arms 12 to which the armature is suitably secured, as by soldering or welding.

On the intermediate freely vibrating portion of the reed 5| extending between the two armature arms 12 are formed two contact-operating reed arms projections I3 which have bent intermediate sections 14 extending perpendicularly away from the plane oi the reed terminating in reverseLv bent overhanging reed portions extending parallel, but in opposite direction to the ar mature arms T2 of the reed. 0n the overhanging end portions 15 or the two contact arms I! of the reed are mounted the oppositely facing vibratory reed contacts 54, 55, respectively. Although the contacts 54, may be made double faced, it is easier to mount them slightly offset on overhanging reed arm portions 15, as shown The oppositely facing reed contacts 54 are arranged to cooperate with the contacts 55, 5'! shown fixedly held on the free ends of supporting arms 11, 15 aligned on the opposite sides of the reed contacts 54, so as to close and break their contacts during the operation of the reed. The other set of contacts 55, 59 cooperating with the other reed contacts 55 are held by a similar set of supporting arms II aligned on opposite sides of the reed contacts 55.

The reed 5i and the two sets of supporting arms 11, I8 for the two sets of stationary 0011-. tacts are assembled in'alignment with the reed and its contact arms I3 between insulating spacers I9 and clamped to one end of the mounting plate II b'y two bolts 8| which are insulated from the metallic conducting portions of the reed 5| and the contact supports 11, I8 by insulating sleeves 82.

By arranging the vibratory contactor mechanism with a vibratory reed which drives two reed projections carrying the vibratory reed contacts in a plane offset, but substantially parallel to the plane of the reedand its armature, it is possible to compress its overall volume into a fraction of the volume heretofore considered necessary for such vibratory contactor mechanism. By making each reed contact arm I3 with an intermediate section I4 extending in the direction of the motion of the reed, substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the reed portions on which the vibratory forces are exerted by the driving magnet iii, the junction points of the intermediate reed sections I4, with the reed pro- ,iection I2 carrying the armature 60 and the reed projections I5 carrying the two pairs of contacts, vibrate in unison or in phase. As a resuit, the overhanging reed arm portions I5,

which extend parallel to the armature arms I2 of the reed, are forced to follow accurately the motion of the'armature and to vibrate in unison with it, except for the intervals during which the reed contacts are held closed while the inertia or momentum of the armature carries it to the end of its full vibratory amplitude.

By giving the intermediate perpendicularly bent portion I3 of the reed contact arm I4 a transverse concavo-convex cross section, in the way shown in Figs. 5 and 6, it is stiifened to resist bending out of the position of perpendicular alignment to the main portion of the reed 5| and to its free end portion I5 carrying the vibratory reed contacts.

Figs. 6 and '7 of the original drawings show in an enlarged 3:1 scale the actual dimensions of a practical contactor mechanism of the invention.

The reed 5i is H of an inch long, its armature portion is and its clamping portion is of an inch Wide. The mounting plate II is F} of an inch long and of an inch wide. The entire vibratory contactor mechanism has overall dimensions of about {=3 x x /2 of an inch.

The width and the free length of the armature arms I2 oi the reed and the height and width of the opening 84 and depression 85 formed in the reed are so proportioned as to assure that its stiffness, or resiliency, and its vibratory masses are so distributed that it vibrates in a stable operating condition. Operation of such vibrator with a vibratingfrequency in the range between about 100 and 200 cycles gave good results.

The armature 60 of the vibratory reed forms with the E-shaped poles 6 I, 63 of the driving electromagnet an efficient magnetic system including a magnetic gap across which the armature vibrates with a variable gap 'of the order of 0.030 of an inch, requiring only a fraction of the power that would be needed in operation with a variable area magnet system generallyused in such arrangements. Operation with a variable length gap is made possible by making the vibratory vibratory reed contacts.

iii)

contacts carried by the reed contact arms I8 light.

The gap distance between the armature and the pole faces of the driving magnet structure may be adjusted either by threadedly mounting the magnet pole piece 6| on the mounting plate II or by interposing thin shims under its clamped end or by slightly bending the reed.

In adjusting the gap spacing, the driving magnet GI is energized from the D. C. source, such as the dry cell 39, having the required driving voltage, and the armature is brought just enough "towards the pole face of the driving magnet as to cause it to swing towards the pole face and bring about its periodic vibratory motion .in the way described hereinabove.

The two sets of stationary contacts 56, 51 and 58, 58 have threaded shanks held in threaded holes of the substantially rigid supporting arms II, I8, so as to make it possible to adjust them in balanced positions in relation to their associated Threads of a fine pitch are used to facilitate fine adjustment of the contact positions. As the armature swings from its neutral position to the one or the other end point of its vibratory path, it is essential that its vibratory contact comes into good positive contact engagement with the stationary contact towards which it moves, and that th s positive contact engagement is maintained during a large part of its motion in the region towards the end point of its path and back therefrom until it reaches the position in which it breaks the previously made contact as it approaches its neutral position on its opposite half of its swing from the neutral position.

The overhanging reed arm portions I5 which carry the vibratory reed contacts and the portion of the reed arm I3 which is parallel thereto are proportioned to serve as bufiers which are bent by the momentum of the armature until it is gradually stopped and then gradually accelerated in opposite direction by the energy stored in the bent buifer portions of the contact arm I3 as well as in the flexed armature arm I2 of the reed 5|. The momentum of the armature is thus utilized to maintain, in conjunction with the buffer action of the contact arm 13-15, positive contact engagement of its two pairs of vibratory contacts during a large part of each half vibratory cycle.

In addition, the flexing portions of the contact arms I3 with the contacts carried on their overhanging end portions I5 are designed to have a sufiiciently higher resonant frequency than that of the vibrating system formed by the armature, and its vibratory reed support, as to assure that they follow the motion of the reed and maintain good chatter-free positive contact with the coopperating stationary contacts from the moment the contact is made until it is broken. The adjustable mounting of the sets of stationary contacts 56, 51 and 58, 58 makes it easy to secure their proper positioning in relation to the vibratory reed contacts without regard to the critical adjustment of the armature in a position of most efficient operation at a variable gap length from he pole faces of the driving magnet.

This adjustable mounting of the stationary contacts 56, 51 and 58, 59 makes it also easier to secure efficient voltage transforming and rectifyng action.

In order to be suitable for use as a direct current supply for the anode circuits of a wearable electron tube" amplifier, operating with a gain of about 80 decibels, such as used in hearing aids, a voltage transforming and rectifying coniactor mechanism of the type described above must meet the following requirements:

It should be able to supply from a D. C. source, such as a battery cell of about 1.5 volts an output of about milliwatts direct current at a voltage of about 60 volts with an efficiency of at least 50%, and its noise output should be not more than decibels above the threshold of normalhearing.

In the voltage transforming and rectifying contactor arrangement of the invention, such etficiency is secured by so adjusting the stationary vibrator contacts 56, 51, 58, 59 in relation to the vibratory contacts 54, 55 and so designing and correlating the circuit elements interconnected with its output transformer and the elements of the vibratory reed contactor that upon the closure of the primary contacts, a direct current which rises substantially linearly with time is sent through its primary transformer winding; that the primary contacts open as soon as the substantially linear rise of the primary current ceases: that the secondary contacts close sufficiently soon after the closure of the primary contacts to assure that the rectified energy flow from the secondary winding of the load circuit shall take place substantially during the entire period the primary contacts are closed; and that the secondary contacts are opened sufficiently soon, at the time, or immediately before the opening of the primary contacts, to substantially prevent back flow of energy from the filter circuit or the load, toward the secondary transformer winding.

Neglecting the transients. the curves of Fig. 9 show the general form of the successive current impulses which are produced by the adjusted vibratory reed contacts in the two halves of the primary transformer winding, and the full line curves of Fig. 10 show the alternating voltage induced by the primary current pulses in the secondary transformer winding. By adjusting the secondary windings of the rectifier contacts of the vibratory contactor mechanism, substantially full rectification of the alternating current may be secured in the way indicated by the succession of full line and rectified dotted line half waves of the voltage impressed on the high voltage leads 49, 49. With such efficient operation of the voltage transforming and rectifying contactor mechanism, a relatively small filter occupying not more space than the contactor mechanism 1S able to supply about 15 milliwatts or even more smooth direct current at a voltage of about 60 volts.

In order to secure such operating conditions, the load circuit including the filter must be designed 50 that during the period when the primary contacts are closed the inductance and resistance of the load circuit, as are reflected in the primary side of the step-up transformer 4!, shall cause the current fiowing into the primary transformer winding to rise substantially linearly with time throughout the period during which the primary contacts remain closed, and the contacts must be adjusted to open at the point when the current ceases to rise.

As seen from Figs. 6 to 8, the opening 84 provided in the vibratory reed 5| not only serves to give the reed the desired stiffness characteristics, but also provides access to the slotted rear ends of the threaded shanks of the contacts 56 to 59 for enabling adjustment of their contact tions. Similarly, the mounting plate II has formed therein cutouts 91 through which the slots in the rear ends of the shanks of the contacts 56 to 59 may be reached for adjusting their contact positions.

In order to prevent transmission of vibrations from the vibrating mechanism to the exterior, the vibrating mechanism is suspended freely on a leaf spring member 9| extending from a mounting block 92 suitably secured within the top of a sound-proof casing 93. In the form shown, the mounting block 92 is formed of two rectangular members of resilient vibration absorbing material, such as rubber, Neoprene or Vinylite, having embedded therein, as by molding, two anchor heads 94 of a pin on which the inner end of the leaf spring 9| is held. This arrangement assures that the vibrating forces exerted by the vibratory mechanism on its yielding supporting block 92 subjects the latter to shear, thus assuring efiicient absorption and suppression of the vibratory forces.

The leaf spring 9| is held clamped between the insulating spacers 19 at a position in which the vibratory forces of the vibrating system balance each other so as to reduce to a minimum and render substantially negligible the vibratory forces transmitted to the support 92.

In two sides of the vibration absorbing block 92 facing the casing 93 are embedded inwardly threaded bushings 96 for receiving the threaded shanks of fiat head screws 9'! which clamp the edges of the casing 93 to the mounting block 92.

In addition, the interior or the exterior of the casing walls 93 are lined with a layer or layers of sound absorbing material, not shown. The unsupported end of the vibrating mechanism 45 with its magnetic driving structure may hang freely supported within the casing 93. In order to assure that the armature cannot be disturbed in the event the freely suspended end of the vibratory mechanism hits against a casing wall, a U-shaped protecting clip IN is clamped over the armature end of the mechanism 45. The clip llll has two arms with central inwardly bent latch projections I02 fitting and interlockingly engaging the recesses I03 formed at the junction of the mounting plat H with its legs 62, the center of the clip llll being held spaced from the armature by inwardly bent stop members I94 engaging the facing surface portions I95 of the mounting plate H on both sides of its pole legs 98. If desired, a collar I96 of highly yieldable material, such as sponge rubber, may be placed around the clip I91 and the rear portion of the mounting plate against which it is held so as to serve as a stop in the event the suspended contactor mechanism 45 is thrown against a. wall of the casing.

The contactor leads from the circuit elements of the contactor mechanism may be suitably led through the body of its supporting block 92 and interconnected on the exterior with the transformer winding 41, the filter choke coil 51. filter condenser 68 and the other elements interconnected with the high voltage leads 48 and 49.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the step-up transformer 4|, the filter inductances E7, and the other elements of the filter circuit are mounted on a bracket Ill] of metal. for instance having bottom legs HI, H2 which are secured. as bv screws H3, to bushing inserts H4 embedded in the resilient vibration absorbing body of the supporting block 92 of the vibrator mechanism 45. The mass of the vibration absorbing body 92 mterposed between the vibrating mechanism housed in the casing 93 and the elements of the filter mechanism carried on the bracket III) is sufilciently large and so arranged as to prevent propagation of the vibrations to the elements mounted on the bracket. By using magnetic core inductances of the type described in my copending application Serial No. 294,649, filed September 13, 1939, having a core cross section of only of one square inch and having overall core dimensions of about x x A; of an inch, a very efiective filtering action will be secured with a filter unit using only two such magnetic core inductances and occupying together with all other elements associated with the voltage transforming, rectifying and filtering arrangement a space of only about 1 x 1 x inch.

As shown, the several elements associated with the filter and the output leads 48, 49 are suitably secured, as by bands II 5, to the upstanding bracket wall III). After mounting in place, the elements mounted on the bracket may be enclosed in a shield H6 of magnetic material, formed, for instance, of two parts which are clamped in position by flat head screws III to flanged edge portions of the bracket legs III, I I2. The leads extending from the fiat contactor mechanism into the space above its mounting block 92 may be suitably interconnected with the elements of the filter mounted on the bracket in the way shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the contactor mechanism and the filter assembly may be suitably secured to the underside of a mounting block I20 forming a cover of the fiat compact casing 35 in which the entire arrangement is mounted, for

instance, by screws IIB clamping a bracket arm II9 to the cover I20. The leads to the transforming and rectifying arrangement may be suitably connected, as by soldering, to the inwardly projecting tips of socket members I23 mounted in suitable holes of the cover block I20 for receiver plug pins of a plug I24 through which the circuit connections to the amplifier unit 29 are completed.

The terminal sockets I23 may be of the type described in Figs. 6 to 9 of my copending application Serial No. 294,649, filed September 13, 1939, and may be arranged in the form of a separate socket secured to the upper bracket arm II9, all mounted together with it as a unit in its position on the cover I29. In the form shown, the upper bracket arm I I9 has a hole into which the tips of the socket terminals I23 project for soldering the leads from the interconnected elements of the transforming, rectifying and filtering arrangement supported by the bracket III), before its shield is secured in place thereon. The shield IIIi is-designed so that it may be formed as an integral unit and slipped down over the vibrator casing 93.

The two battery cells 36, 39 are likewise arranged to be held on a bracket I3I of metal, for instance, having an upper arm secured, as by screws I 32, to the threaded bushing I33 embedded in the cover block I20 of the casing. On the downwardly extending bracket I3I are insulatingly mounted spring contact members I34, I35 arranged so that a standard dry battery cell may be quickly inserted into its operating position-or removed therefrom, the contact members being suitably interconnected with the other circuit elements in the way shown in Fig. 2. The batteries may be quickly reached for removal or replacement by providing the casing with a removable end wall section I36 which is held in its position The switch unit 34 may be of the slider type,

and may be mounted on the amplifier casing in the way shown in my copending application Serial No. 294,649, filed September 13, 1939,,or it may be mounted either on the cover wall I29 of the power unit 35, or, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it may be combined with the cord at a point where it can be I readily reached by the hand of the user, for instance, by providing it with a clip for holding it in the desired place,

In Figs. 11, 12 and 13 is shown an alternative form of a vibratory contactor mechanism of the invention. Its elements are similar to those shown in Figs. 6 to 8. Its vibratory reed 5IA carries its armature 69 on a central arm I which is offset relatively to the portion from which its two vibratory contact arms 52A, 53A extend. Alternatively, its central armature bearing portion I4I may be formed into contact arms, such as 52A, and its outer two contact arms may be bent to support the armature 60 in the offset position shown, the intermediate perpendicularly bent portions I42 being stifiened as at 14 in Figs. 6 to 8.

The contactor mechanism of Figs. 11 to 13 occupies somewhat more space than that of Figs. 6 to 8. By mounting the armature on portions of the vibratory reed which are offset relatively to the contact arms 52A, 53A of the reed, such vibratory contact mechanism may be compressed into a. very small size, only slightly larger than that described in connection with Figs. 6 to 8.

In order to prevent oxidation of the vibratory contacts, the contactor mechanism may be suspended in 'a' hermetically closed vessel which is filled with an inert gas, such as nitrogen. Metal vessels, such as those used for metal vacuum tubes, or glass vessels, may be used as such enclosures.

When using a glass for such enclosure, two or three strong supporting wires may be sealed in a glass press and the inner ends of the supporting wires may be held clamped by the bolts 8I of the vibrating mechanism, so as to support it in a freely vibrating condition within the gas enclosing vessel.

The leads for completing the electrical circuit connections to the elements of the contactor mechanism are likewise sealed in the press, the inner ends of the leads being provided with loose end portions so that they are not subjected to any strain. To prevent the suspended portion of the contactor mechanism from breaking the glass walls, a metal clip which is placed around its vibrating armature may be provided with helical bufier springs extending toward the wall so as to preventdirect contact of the vibrating mechanism with the wall of the casing.

Instead of making the reed with offset portions as shown, all the elements may be made and aligned in the same plane, in which case the contactor mechanism is slightly increased in depth without sacrificing its operating advantages.

The features and principles underlying the invention described above in connection with specific exemplifications,.will suggest to those skilled in the art many other modifications thereof. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be construed broadly and that they shall not be limited to the specific details shown and described in connection with the cxemplifications thereof.

I claim:

1. In a voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement for periodically sending impulses from a direct current source through primary windings of a transformer and for rectifying the induced alternating voltage impressed by the secondary windings of the transformer on a direct current load: a relatively rigid supporting structure: a vibratory leaf-spring reed having one end rigidly aflixed to said supporting structure for holding said reed in a vibratory condition relatively to said supporting structure; a driving electrcmagnet mounted on said supporting structure and having an elongated magnetic pole member extending in the direction of the vibratory motion of said reed; said reed having a driving reed projection and two driven reed projections extending laterally relatively to each other from the main portion of said reed; an armature secured to the driving reed projection and spaced by a variable air gap from the end of said pole member so as to be vibrated across said gap during the operation of said contactor; a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, primary contact elements carried by one driven reed projection and a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, secondary contact elements carried by the other driven reed projection; a pair of stationary primary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory primary contact elements as two alternately operated sets of primary impulse contacts for sending said direct current impulses; a pair of stationary secondary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory secondary contact elements as two sets of secondary rectifying contacts alternately operated in predetermined correlation to the operatiorr of the two sets of primary contacts, respectively, for rectifying the alternating voltage impressed on the load; said driving electromagnet having windings interconnected with said primary contacts so as to be intermittently energized from said source for vibrating said reed and operating said contacts; said driven reed projections being offset relatively to the driving reed projection and being confined in the space extending along one side of said pole member; said driving reed projection being interconnected with said driven reed projections through intermediate reed elements exhibiting great stifiness in the direction of the vibratory reed motion so that the junctions of said intermediate reed elements with the driving and driven reed projections vibrate substantially in phase; said stationary primary and secondary contact elements being so adjustably mounted on said rigid supporting structure and the elements of said vibratory reed being so designed and proportioned as to permit setting of said contact elements in a condition at which each set of primary contacts is alternately actuated to remain closed substantially only during the period while the impulse current rises substantially linearly and at which each set of secondary contacts is alternately actuated to close and open before the corresponding set of primary contacts close and open, respectively.

2. In a, voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement for periodically sending impulses from a direct current source through primary windings of a transformer and for rectifying the induced alternating voltage lmpressed by the secondary windings of the transformer on a direct current load: a relatively rigid supporting structure; a vibratory leaf-spring reed having one end rigidly aflixed to said supporting structure for holding said reed in a vibratory condition relatively to said supporting structure; a driving electromagnet mounted on said supporting structure and having an elongated magnetic pole member extending in the direction of the vibratory motion of said reed; said reed having a driving reed projection and two driven reed projections extending laterally relatively to each other from the main portion of said reed; an armature secured to the driving reed projection and spaced by a variable air gap from the end of said pole member so as to be vibrated across said gap during the operation of said contactor: a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, primary contact elements carried by one driven reed projection and a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, secondary contact elements carried by the other driven reed projection; a pair of stationary primary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory primary contact elements as two alternately operated sets of primary impulse contacts for sending said direct current impulses; a pair of stationary secondary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory secondary contact elements as two sets of secondary rectifying contacts alternately operated in predetermined correlation to the operation of the two sets of primary contacts, respectively, for rectifying the alternating voltage impressed on the load; said driving electromagnet having windings interconnected with said primary contacts so as to be intermittently energized from said source for vibrating said reed and operating said contacts; said driven reed projections being offset relatively to the driving reed projection and being confined in the space extending along one side of said pole member; said driving reed projection being interconnected with said driven reed projections through intermediate reed elements extending substantially perpendicularly to said reed projections and exhibiting great stiffness in the direction of the vibratory reed motion so that the junctions of said intermediate reed elements with the driving and driven reed projections vibrate substantially in phase.

3. In a voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement for periodically sending impulses from a direct current source through primary windings of a transformer and for rectifying the induced alternating voltage impressed by the secondary windings of the transformer on a direct current load: a relatively rigid supporting structure; a vibratory leaf-spring reed having one end rigidly affixed to said supporting structure for holding said reed in a. vibratory condition relatively to said supporting structure; a driving electromagnet mounted on said supporting structure and having an elongated magnetic pole member extending in the direction of the vibratory motion of said reed; said reed having a driving reed projection and two driven reed projections extending laterally relatively to each other from the main portion of said reed; an armature secured to the driving reed projection and spaced by a. variable air gap from the end of said pole member so as to be vibrated across said cap during the operation of said contactor; a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, primary contact elements carried by one driven reed projection and a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, secondary contact elements carried by the other driven reed projection; a pair of stationary primary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory primary contact elements as two alternately operated sets of primary impulse contacts for sending said direct current impulses; a pair of stationary secondary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory secondary contact elements as two sets of secondary rectifying contacts alternately operated in predetermined correlation to the operation of the two sets of primary contacts, respectively, for rectifying the alternating voltage impressed on the load; said driving electromagnet having windings interconnected with said primary contacts so as to be intermittently energized from said source for vibrating said reed and operating said contacts; said driven reed projections being oilset relatively to the driving reed projection and being confined in the space extending along one side of said pole member; said driving reed projection being interconnected with said driven reed projections through intermediate reed elements of a concavoconvex cross section extending substantially perpendicularly to said reed projection and exhibiting great stiffness in the direction of the vibratory said driving electromagnet having windings interconnected with said primary contacts so as to be intermittently energized from said source for vibrating said reed and operating said contacts; said driven reed projections being reverscly bent and offset relatively to the driving reed projection and being confined in the space extending along one side of said pole member; said driving reed projection being interconnected with said driven reed projections through intermediate reed elements exhibiting great stiffness in the direction of the vibratory reed motion so that the junctions of said intermediate reed elements with the driving and driven reed projections vibrate substantially in phase; said stationary primary and secondary contact elements being so adjustably mounted on said rigid supporting structure and the elements of said vibratory reed being so designed and proportioned as to permit setting of said contact elements in a condition at which each set of primary contacts is alternately actuated to remain closed substantially only during the period While the impulse current rises substantially linearly and at which each set of secondary contacts is alternately actuated to close and open before the corresponding set of primary contacts close and open, respectively.

5. In a voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement for periodically sending impulses from a direct current source a through primary windings of a transformer and reed motion so'that the junctions of said intermediate reed elements with the driving and driven reed projections vibrate substantially in phase.

4. In a voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement for periodically sending impulses from a direct current source through primary windings of a transformer and for rectifying the induced alternating voltage impressed by the secondary windings of the transformer on a direct current load: a relatively rigid supporting structure; a vibratory leaf-spring reed having one end rigidly aifixed to said supporting structure for holding said reed in a vibratory condition relatively to said supporting structure; a driving electromagnet mounted on said supporting structure and having an elongated magnetic pole member extending in the direction of the vibratory motion of said reed; saidreed having a driving reed projection and two driven reed projections extending laterally relatively to each other from the main portion of said reed; an armature secured to the driving reed projection and spaced by a variable air gap from the end of said pole member so as to be vibrated across said gap during the operation of said contactor; a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, primary contact elements carried by one driven reed projection and a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, secondary contact elements carried by the other driven reed projection; a pair of stationary primary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory primary contact elements as two alternately operated sets of primary impulse contacts for sending said direct current impulses; a pair of stationary secondary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory secondary contact elements as two sets of secondary rectifying contacts alternately operated in predetermined correlation to the operation of the two sets of primary contacts, respectively, for rectifying the alternating voltage impressed on the load;

for rectifying the induced alternating voltage impressed by the secondary win-dings of the trans former on a direct current load: a relatively rigid supporting structure; a vibratory leaf-spring reed having one end rigidly afiixed to said supporting structure for holding said reed in a vibratory condition relatively to said supporting structure; a driving electromagnet mounted on said supporting structure and having an elongated magnetic pole member extending in the direction of the vibratory motion of said reed; said reed having a driving reed projection an we driven reed projections extending lateral y relatively to each other from the main portion of said reed; an armature secured to the driving reed projection and spaced by a variable air gap from the end of said pole member so as to be vibrated across said gap during the operation of said contactor; a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, primary contact elements carried by one driven reed projection and a. pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, secondary contact elements carried by the other driven reed projection; a pair of stationary primary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory primary contact elements as two alter: nately operated sets of primary impulse contacts for sending said direct current impulses; a pair of stationary secondary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory secondary contact elements as two sets of secondary rectifying contacts alternately operated in predetermined correlation to the operation of the two sets of primary contacts, respectively, for rectifying the alternating voltage impressed on the load; said driving electromagnet havingwindings interconnected with said primary contacts so as to be intermittently energized from said source for vibrating said reed and operating said contacts; said driven reed projections being reversely bent and offset relatively to the driving reed projection and being confined in the space extending along one side of said pole member; said driving reed pIUJBUblOIl being interconnected with said driven reed projections through intermediate reed elements extending substantially perpendicularly to said reed projections and exhibiting great stiffness in the direction of the vibratory reed motion so that the junctions of said intermediate reed elements with the driving and driven reed projections vibrate substantially in phase.

6. In a voltage transforming and rectifying vibratory contactor arrangement for periodically sending impulses from a direct current source through primary windings of a transformer and for rectifying the induced alternating voltage impressed by the secondary windings of the transformer on a direct current load: a relatively rigid supporting structure; a vibratory leaf-spring reed having one end rigidly affixed to said supporting structure for holding said reed in a vibratory condition relatively to said supporting structure; a driving electromagnet mounted on said supporting structure and having an elongated magnetic pole member extending in the direction of the vibratory motion of said reed; said reed having a driving reed projection and two driven reed projections extending laterally relatively to each other from the main portion of said reed; an armature secured to the driving reed projection and spaced by a variable air gap from the end of said pole member so as to be vibrated across said gap during the operation of said contactor; a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, primary contact elements carried by one'driven reed projection and a pair of oppositely facing, vibratory, secondary contact elements carried by the other driven reed projection: a pair of stationary primary contact elements substantially rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory primary contact elements as two alternately operated sets of primary impulse contacts for sending said direct current impulses; a pair 01 stationary secondary contact elements substantially-rigidly supported by said supporting structure so as to cooperate with said vibratory secondary contact elements as two sets of secondary rectifying contacts alternately operated in predetermined correlation to the operation of the two sets of primary contacts, respectively, for rectifying the alternating voltage impressed on the load; said driving electromagnet having windings interconnected with said primary contacts so as to be intermittently energized from said source for vibrating said reed and operating said contacts; said driven reed projections being reversely bent and offset relatively to the driving reed projection and being confined in the space extending along one side of said pole member; said driving reed projection being interconnected with'said driven reed projections through intermediate reed elements of a concavo-convex cross section extending substantially perpendicularly to said reed projection and exhibiting great stiflness in the direction 01 the vibratory reed motion so that the junctions 01' said intermediate reed elements ,with the driving and driven reed projections vibrate substantially in phase.

HARRY B. SHAPIRO. 

